Horsepower Vineyards
The Tribe Vineyard Syrah
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Again, these are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. This was part of a blind lineup for “Rhône style wines”. These wines are a bit difficult not to identify in a blind lineup due to their distinctive aromatics.
My note here is pretty similar to the 2011 I opened a year and a half ago. In true to Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. At 10yrs, the palate is almost a dead ringer for high end northern Rhône Syrah. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue but there is great acid followed by stems, herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I found the 2011 to have a lighter/more floral profile, but this one certainly has more stuffing and aging potential. This seems to just now be entering a peak drinking window.
Also in the lineup was a 2014 Hors Categorie (also from Christophe Baron), and I found the 2012 HP to taste younger, while the 2014 HC had a bit more heft in the mid-palate. Love both.
Again, these are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. This was part of a blind lineup for “Rhône style wines”. These wines are a bit difficult not to identify in a blind lineup due to their distinctive aromatics.
My note here is pretty similar to the 2011 I opened a year and a half ago. In true to Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. At 10yrs, the palate is almost a dead ringer for high end northern Rhône Syrah. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue but there is great acid followed by stems, herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I found the 2011 to have a lighter/more floral profile, but this one certainly has more stuffing and aging potential. This seems to just now be entering a peak drinking window.
Also in the lineup was a 2014 Hors Categorie (also from Christophe Baron), and I found the 2012 HP to taste younger, while the 2014 HC had a bit more heft in the mid-palate. Love both.
Talk about an introduction to Washington state wines! Wow. @Benjamin Keator and @Keith Fisher were kind enough to share a glass of some big boy WA wines, and both were super unique.
I have never in my life had a Syrah like this. @Mark Flesher was on point when he said the nose had a tuna smell to it. Some also got dill pickle on the nose...for me, it was more Olive. Very red in the glass compared to the inky dark Syrahs that Napa puts out. Again, I wasn't able to stick around to do this justice, but this has a long life ahead. Very crisp acidity on the palate with loads of raspberries and rhubarb. Light on the front and mid palate, but super long finish and strong tannic backbone. A very cool wine.
Talk about an introduction to Washington state wines! Wow. @Benjamin Keator and @Keith Fisher were kind enough to share a glass of some big boy WA wines, and both were super unique.
I have never in my life had a Syrah like this. @Mark Flesher was on point when he said the nose had a tuna smell to it. Some also got dill pickle on the nose...for me, it was more Olive. Very red in the glass compared to the inky dark Syrahs that Napa puts out. Again, I wasn't able to stick around to do this justice, but this has a long life ahead. Very crisp acidity on the palate with loads of raspberries and rhubarb. Light on the front and mid palate, but super long finish and strong tannic backbone. A very cool wine.
My first time tasting the HP from Christophe who also does it all at Cayuse. I liked this, it was not trying too hard to be anything but a good Syrah in character from Washington St. From a new site of the gravelly and stone sites he is most famous for with his other wines.
My first time tasting the HP from Christophe who also does it all at Cayuse. I liked this, it was not trying too hard to be anything but a good Syrah in character from Washington St. From a new site of the gravelly and stone sites he is most famous for with his other wines.
Feb 22nd, 2016
floats over the palate but should gain weight in good time #matteroftaste
floats over the palate but should gain weight in good time #matteroftaste
Feb 22nd, 2016
Another world class effort from the Cayuse family. Savory, herbaceous, and spicy. Just what I want from Syrah.
Another world class effort from the Cayuse family. Savory, herbaceous, and spicy. Just what I want from Syrah.
Jul 28th, 2015
Genius. Surpasses the '11 vintage by far. Everything is dialed in here in perfect proportion.
Genius. Surpasses the '11 vintage by far. Everything is dialed in here in perfect proportion.
Jan 16th, 2017